What are the CCC?

October 19, 2012

The Cass Corridor Commons

EMEAC is committed to
cultivating a shared space called The Commons. The Commons is intended to
serve as a multi-use non-profit and green space in which educational
activities, community efforts and business endeavors are created and carried
out. Our vision is to transform the Unitarian Universalist office space – that
was donated to EMEAC in 2011 – into a multi-use office space and community hub
that embodies principles of shared space, environmental justice and social justice
principles. We intend to use the space in the following ways:

Office space for East
Michigan Environmental Action Council and several grassroots organizations with
which EMEAC collaborates.

The idea of the Commons
emerged from the United States Social Forum held in Detroit, MI in June 2010.
Several organizations that played an important role in the planning and
implementation of the USSF – including the East Michigan Environmental Action
Council [EMEAC], Detroit Women of Color Film Festival, Detroit Black Community
Food Security Network [DBCFSN], Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC),
and Michigan Welfare Rights Organization [MWRO] – continued meeting after the
USSF to discuss its impact on and legacy to Detroit. A common theme of
these ongoing conversations involved the many ways that Detroit residents were
inspired to get involved in revitalizing and uplifting Detroit communities.

After many discussions
with one another and feedback from USSF attendees, as well as observations and
critical analyses of the outsider-led Detroit revitalization initiatives (which
systematically deny input by grassroots people and organizations),
recommendations to positively impact the city of Detroit and its residents were
identified. One recommendation was to create and support a commons,
or a publicly owned/held shared space; especially timely given the determined
effort to gentrify various neighborhoods in Detroit, thereby displacing people
and businesses/organizations that have served them for years. In the meantime
an opportunity opened to submit a proposal to the Unitarian Universalist Church
to assume ownership of its 3-building complex. EMEAC prepared a proposal
that was accepted in June 2011. Since then we have been working to
develop the concept and practice of a Commons.

We consider the
creation of the Commons to be an important contribution to community advocacy
and movement building in the city of Detroit, particularly as it is located in
the heart of rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Though still in the early stages of development, Commons members are
furthering its development by creating values and principles, as well as
processes for shared decision-making, care for the building, making repairs and
renovations, offering programs and engaging the community...among other things.
We look forward to fully realizing what we consider to be a powerful
alternative to an economy in crisis.